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Child Temperament in Three U.S. Cultural Groups.
Marc H Bornstein1, Linda R Cote
1Child and Family Research Program in Developmental Neuroscience Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Infant Mental Health Journal
|December 25, 2012
Summary
Child temperament showed few cultural differences in a US study, aligning with universalist views. However, maternal reporting of temperament varied across Latin American, Japanese American, and European American groups.
Area of Science:
- Child psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Cultural psychology
Background:
- Early temperament is crucial for child development and social interactions.
- Understanding cultural influences on temperament is essential for accurate assessment.
- Previous research suggests both universal and culturally specific aspects of temperament.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temperament differences in 20-month-old children across three cultural groups in the US.
- To examine the influence of cultural background on the expression of child temperament.
- To explore variations in maternal reporting of child temperament across cultural groups.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 111 20-month-old children from Latin American, Japanese American, and European American backgrounds participated.
- Child temperament was assessed, considering a biobehavioral universalist perspective.
- Maternal reports of child temperament were analyzed for cultural group differences.
Main Results:
- Few significant differences in child temperament were observed across the three cultural groups.
- Factors associated with maternal reports of child temperament showed significant variations by cultural group.
- This suggests a universal basis for temperament expression, but cultural nuances in perception.
Conclusions:
- Child temperament appears to be largely universal, with minimal differences across the studied cultural groups.
- Maternal perception and reporting of temperament are influenced by cultural background.
- Findings offer insights into child temperament in immigrant families and parenting practices.
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